Regular Session - March 11, 2025

                                                                   959

 1                NEW YORK STATE SENATE

 2                          

 3                          

 4               THE STENOGRAPHIC RECORD

 5                          

 6                          

 7                          

 8                          

 9                  ALBANY, NEW YORK

10                   March 11, 2025

11                      3:08 p.m.

12                          

13                          

14                   REGULAR SESSION

15  

16  

17  

18  SENATOR JAMAAL T. BAILEY, Acting President

19  ALEJANDRA N. PAULINO, ESQ., Secretary

20  

21  

22  

23  

24  

25  


                                                               960

 1                P R O C E E D I N G S

 2                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   The 

 3    Senate will come to order.  

 4                 I ask everyone present to please 

 5    rise and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

 6                 (Whereupon, the assemblage recited 

 7    the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.)

 8                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   In the 

 9    absence of clergy, let us bow our heads in a 

10    moment of silent reflection or prayer.

11                 (Whereupon, the assemblage respected 

12    a moment of silence.)

13                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Reading 

14    of the Journal.

15                 THE SECRETARY:   In Senate, Monday, 

16    March 10, 2025, the Senate met pursuant to 

17    adjournment.  The Journal of Friday, March 7, 

18    2025, was read and approved.  On motion, the 

19    Senate adjourned.

20                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Without 

21    objection, the Journal stands approved as read.

22                 Presentation of petitions.

23                 Messages from the Assembly.

24                 Messages from the Governor.

25                 Reports of standing committees.


                                                               961

 1                 Reports of select committees.

 2                 Communications and reports from 

 3    state officers.

 4                 Motions and resolutions.

 5                 Senator Gianaris.

 6                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   Good afternoon, 

 7    Mr. President.  

 8                 I move to adopt the 

 9    Resolution Calendar, with the exception of 

10    Resolution Number 484.

11                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   All in 

12    favor of adopting the Resolution Calendar, with 

13    the exception of Resolution 484, please signify 

14    by saying aye.

15                 (Response of "Aye.")

16                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Opposed, 

17    nay.

18                 (No response.)

19                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   The 

20    Resolution Calendar is adopted.  

21                 Senator Gianaris.  

22                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   There is a 

23    privileged resolution at the desk.  Please take 

24    that up, read its title, and recognize 

25    Senator Gonzalez.


                                                               962

 1                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   There is 

 2    a privileged resolution at the desk.

 3                 The Secretary will read.

 4                 THE SECRETARY:   Resolution 489, by 

 5    Senator Stewart-Cousins, commemorating the 

 6    60th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday and the 

 7    Selma-to-Montgomery march across the 

 8    Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, which 

 9    served as a catalyst for passage of the 

10    1965 Voting Rights Act.  

11                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Senator 

12    Gonzalez on the resolution.

13                 SENATOR GONZALEZ:   Thank you.  

14    Thank you, Mr. President.  

15                 And thank you to the leader for 

16    bringing forward this resolution honoring the 

17    60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.  

18                 On March 7, 1965, 600 people set out 

19    on a peaceful march from Selma to Montgomery.  

20    The marchers were protesting white officials' 

21    refusal to allow Black Alabamians to vote.  

22    Uncertain of what lay ahead, they marched forward 

23    anyway.  They marched despite months of violence 

24    against civil rights protesters in Alabama and 

25    the murder of one of their own, Jimmy Lee 


                                                               963

 1    Jackson, a 26-year-old activist who had been 

 2    fatally shot in the stomach by a police officer 

 3    during a peaceful protest just days before.  

 4                 Given the significance of this 

 5    anniversary, I think it's important to remember 

 6    this event in John Lewis's own words.  As he 

 7    recounted:  "We started walking.  I was wearing a 

 8    backpack before it became fashionable to wear a 

 9    backpack.  In this backpack I had two books.  I 

10    thought we were going to be arrested, so I wanted 

11    something to read in jail.

12                 "I wanted something to eat in that 

13    backpack, so I had an apple and an orange.  Since 

14    I thought we were going to be arrested and go to 

15    jail with my friends and colleagues and 

16    neighbors, I wanted to be able to brush my teeth.  

17    I had toothpaste and a toothbrush.  

18                 "When we got to the highest point on 

19    the Edmund Pettus Bridge, down below we saw a sea 

20    of blue Alabama state troopers.  We came within 

21    hearing distance of the troopers, and a man spoke 

22    up and said, 'I'm Major John Cloud of the Alabama 

23    state troopers.  This is an unlawful march.  It 

24    will not be allowed to continue.  I give you 

25    three minutes to disperse and return to your 


                                                               964

 1    homes or to your church.'  

 2                 "And a young man walking beside me 

 3    by the name of Hosea Williams, from Dr. King's 

 4    organization said, 'Major, give us a moment to 

 5    kneel and pray.'  Before we could pass word back 

 6    for the people to kneel and pray, the major said:  

 7    Troopers, advance.'  

 8                 "They came toward us beating us with 

 9    nightsticks trampling us with horses, and 

10    releasing their tear gas.  I was the first one to 

11    be hit."  

12                 As we honor Bloody Sunday, the 

13    Civil Rights Movement, and the fight for voting 

14    rights, we are also honoring an American 

15    tradition -- that change does not come from on 

16    high, but from ordinary people with extraordinary 

17    courage.  

18                 John Lewis was just 25 when he led 

19    this march, and he believed that everyday people 

20    had the power to stand up and call out when 

21    something isn't right.  

22                 I am grateful to those who marched 

23    before me.  Many of us would not be here without 

24    those hard-won voting rights.  I was also 25 in 

25    the summer of 2020 when I joined thousands in 


                                                               965

 1    protest.  However, the backpacks we carried 

 2    looked a little different from John Lewis's.  In 

 3    my backpack I carried masks and hand sanitizer, a 

 4    water bottle, a fully charged phone, and, if I 

 5    got arrested, my ID and an "in case of emergency" 

 6    card with the name and contact information of two 

 7    friends.  

 8                 Just as in 1965, the hundreds and 

 9    thousands who showed up were everyday people.  

10    For some in this room, both Bloody Sunday and the 

11    2020 protest happened in the span of your 

12    lifetime.  It's a stark reminder that freedom is 

13    fought and won in every generation by everyday 

14    people, and that the work isn't done.  

15                 Voting rights is the anchor for all 

16    of the other rights we fought for and won over 

17    the last six years.  Yet, since the Supreme Court 

18    struck down huge portions of the 1965 Voting 

19    Rights Act, we've seen many states pass onerous 

20    voting ID requirements, shut down polling places 

21    in black and brown neighborhoods, and more.  

22                 We are lucky to be in New York 

23    where, under the leadership of Andrea 

24    Stewart-Cousins, we've passed the John R. Lewis 

25    Voting Rights Act by Senator Myrie, and some of 


                                                               966

 1    the most robust election protections, including 

 2    adding early voting places and ballot drop-off 

 3    boxes.  We've also passed same-day registration 

 4    on the first day of early voting and have 

 5    encouraged voter education and transparency.

 6                 These wins do not mean that we can 

 7    stop marching.  Today we are seeing a reversal of 

 8    our deepest American values of diversity and 

 9    equity.  The next generation, our children's 

10    generation, are at risk of having fewer rights 

11    than we did.  And if we want our children to grow 

12    up in a democracy, we have to start by protecting 

13    elections.  

14                 Bloody Sunday wasn't the last 

15    attempt to march on Montgomery.  Later that 

16    month, 600 people became 25,000 people who 

17    marched the full 54 miles.  And just five months 

18    later, the Voting Rights Act was signed.  

19                 Right now, as legislators, we have a 

20    duty to find the courage to stand up and speak 

21    out for what's right regardless of the 

22    consequences.  As we take on the next set of 

23    challenges and existential threats to our 

24    democracy we must, as John Lewis said, get in 

25    good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem 


                                                               967

 1    the soul of America.  

 2                 Thank you, Mr. President.  I 

 3    encourage my colleagues to support this 

 4    resolution.  Thank you.

 5                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Thank 

 6    you, Senator Gonzalez.

 7                 The question is on the resolution.  

 8    All in favor please signify by saying aye.

 9                 (Response of "Aye.")

10                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Opposed, 

11    nay.

12                 (No response.)

13                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   The 

14    resolution is adopted.

15                 Senator Gianaris.

16                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   Let's move on to 

17    previously adopted Resolution 423, by 

18    Senator Harckham, read that resolution's title, 

19    and recognize Senator Harckham.

20                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   The 

21    Secretary will read.

22                 THE SECRETARY:   Resolution 423, by 

23    Senator Harckham, mourning the death of 

24    John O. Peck, devoted husband, father, 

25    grandfather, brother, and small business owner.  


                                                               968

 1                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Senator 

 2    Harckham on the resolution.

 3                 SENATOR HARCKHAM:   Thank you very 

 4    much, Mr. President.  

 5                 You know, we rise in this chamber to 

 6    pay tribute to our constituents for a variety of 

 7    characteristics.  Today I stand here to 

 8    memorialize and ask colleagues to join me in 

 9    memorializing someone just for their basic human 

10    decency, which is a trait that I think we are 

11    sorely lacking.  

12                 My neighbor John Peck passed away a 

13    few weeks ago.  John was born in 1951.  He 

14    attended John Jay High School, which is our local 

15    high school, the high school my daughters went 

16    to.  

17                 He was a lifelong resident of Vista, 

18    New York, which is a hamlet in Lewisboro.  And 

19    publicly, John was best known for founding J.O. 

20    Peck Heating & Cooling, where he was known for 

21    his craftsmanship, his customer service.  It was 

22    not uncommon on a Christmas night for John to be 

23    in a customer's house fixing their heating 

24    system.  That's just who John was.  

25                 He was a devoted husband to his 


                                                               969

 1    sweetheart, Carol.  They were together for 

 2    50 years.  And John fought cancer three times, 

 3    defeated it three times.  His wife, Carol, was by 

 4    his side every step of the way.

 5                 He was a devoted father to his two 

 6    sons, Jeff and Mike, who I know through the Vista 

 7    Fire Department.  Jeff is the current chief, and 

 8    Mike is a lead foreman in the department.

 9                 But those who knew John knew of his 

10    love of cars, his love of racing cars.  He was a 

11    practical joker, playing jokes on his sons, his 

12    sons returning playing jokes on him.  He and 

13    Carol and the family loved going to Disney World.  

14    That was really a joy, that family tradition they 

15    had.  And he was a father -- a grandfather, I 

16    should say, and just cherished being a 

17    grandfather to Reagan and Luke.

18                 So, you know, obviously just a 

19    wonderfully, wonderfully decent person who will 

20    be missed by friends, family and the community.  

21    Taken from us too soon, to be sure, but certainly 

22    one who really left his mark on all of us, and 

23    somebody who we should really just take a moment 

24    and pause and reflect upon our own responsibility 

25    to those around us and for basic simple human 


                                                               970

 1    decency.  That was John Peck.  

 2                 I vote aye, Mr. President.  Thank 

 3    you.

 4                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   The 

 5    resolution was previously adopted on March 4th.

 6                 Senator Gianaris.

 7                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   Next up, 

 8    Resolution 484, by Senator Baskin.  Read its 

 9    title and recognize Senator Baskin.

10                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   The 

11    Secretary will read.

12                 THE SECRETARY:   Resolution 484, by 

13    Senator Baskin, mourning the death of Michael 

14    Harmon and Jordan Celotto, beloved artists and 

15    advocates and devoted members of their community.

16                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Senator 

17    Baskin on the resolution.

18                 SENATOR BASKIN:   Thank you, 

19    Mr. President.

20                 It is with great sadness that I rise 

21    to express the profound sorrow and senseless 

22    murder of two community icons in my district who 

23    were killed in their home last Tuesday.  

24                 No elected official chooses to rise 

25    in situations like this.  Michael "Mickey" Harmon 


                                                               971

 1    and Jordan Celotto were community and business 

 2    leaders and long-time activists in the LGBTQ+ 

 3    community.  Mickey and Jordan brought a light and 

 4    love and their creativity to the Allentown 

 5    neighborhood, making our community, making 

 6    District 63 a better place to live, a better 

 7    place to work, and a better place to play.

 8                 Their tragic murders will impact our 

 9    community -- my district -- for years to come, 

10    which should be a vital call for us here in these 

11    chambers to examine mental health issues, where I 

12    believe these tragedies are rooted.  

13                 May these two exceptional men rest 

14    in heavenly peace.  Thank you, Mr. President.

15                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Thank 

16    you, Senator Baskin.  

17                 Senator Ryan on the resolution.

18                 SENATOR SEAN RYAN:   Thank you, 

19    Mr. President.  

20                 Thank you to my colleague 

21    Senator Baskin for putting together this 

22    resolution today.  It's an important resolution.

23                 So I rise today to honor the lives 

24    of Mickey Harmon and Jordan Celotto, victims of a 

25    senseless murder that occurred last week.  I 


                                                               972

 1    share in all the grief that the Buffalo community 

 2    is feeling.  

 3                 Mickey and Jordan were partners, and 

 4    they loved Buffalo.  They were artists and they 

 5    were leaders in the LGBTQ community, and they 

 6    were so dedicated to making Buffalo the best that 

 7    it could be through their service, through their 

 8    art, and their commitment to improving Buffalo's 

 9    neighborhoods and to a more equitable world.

10                 It's difficult to describe the 

11    extent of the profound impact that these two 

12    individuals had.  And many have noted that Mickey 

13    was an icon of gay Buffalo.  He was a talented 

14    artist, a dedicated leader in Allentown and all 

15    across Buffalo.  The murals and the art that 

16    Mickey created often honored gay and trans people 

17    and Buffalo's history, as well as our beautiful 

18    architecture.  

19                 Jordan came to Buffalo just a few 

20    short years ago, but he quickly became part of 

21    our Buffalo family.  At Remedy House, where he 

22    worked, to the dance floor, Jordan will always be 

23    remembered for his welcoming presence and the joy 

24    that he brought to countless friends and 

25    neighbors.  


                                                               973

 1                 Our city is a better and a brighter 

 2    place because of how Mickey and Jordan showed up 

 3    and they contributed.  

 4                 I'd like to close by reading 

 5    something that Mickey wrote a few years ago.  

 6    Mickey was a contributor to an arts project 

 7    called Postcards On the Edge.  It was a pandemic 

 8    project where a local gallery called Hallwalls 

 9    created postcards that local artists would 

10    design, and inside there would be an accompanying 

11    message.  They would be put in mailboxes outside 

12    of locations for people, you know, to pick up, 

13    especially during that time of despondency and 

14    isolation.  

15                 Mickey designed a card featuring 

16    Buffalo's great architecture treasures, but with 

17    smiling faces on them.  But he wrote this to go 

18    along with it:  

19                 "To all Buffalonians, let us be 

20    reminded of our community's past and present so 

21    we can all look forward to a more positive 

22    future.  

23                 "The history of the Queen City is 

24    full of innovators, industry and communities of 

25    good faith.  


                                                               974

 1                 "These buildings we share are a 

 2    testament to the civil and sovereign duty we have 

 3    celebrated in this city of no illusions.  

 4                 It's your Buffalo, it's my Buffalo, 

 5    and we are all neighbors."  

 6                 Those were beautiful words that 

 7    captured exactly who Mickey and Jordan were.  

 8                 Mickey and Jordan may be gone, but 

 9    their legacy will live on in Buffalo.

10                 Thank you very much, Mr. President.

11                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   The 

12    question is on the resolution.  All in favor 

13    signify by saying aye.

14                 (Response of "Aye.")

15                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Opposed, 

16    nay.

17                 (No response.)

18                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   The 

19    resolution is adopted.

20                 Senator Gianaris.

21                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   Mr. President, 

22    the sponsors of today's resolutions would like to 

23    open them up for cosponsorship.

24                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   The 

25    resolutions are open for cosponsorship.  Should 


                                                               975

 1    you choose not to be a cosponsor, please notify 

 2    the desk.

 3                 Senator Gianaris.  

 4                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   Please recognize 

 5    Senator May for an introduction.  

 6                 SENATOR HELMING:   Senator May for 

 7    the purposes of an introduction.

 8                 SENATOR MAY:   Thank you, 

 9    Mr. President.  

10                 Members of the Senate, distinguished 

11    guests and colleagues, it's my great honor to 

12    introduce to you two esteemed guests who have 

13    joined us in this chamber.  

14                 First, I am privileged to welcome 

15    the Consul General of the Federal Republic of 

16    Germany to New York, His Excellency Till Knorn.  

17                 Consul General Knorn has been a 

18    steadfast advocate for strengthening the ties 

19    between Germany and the United States, 

20    particularly here in New York, a state that 

21    shares deep historical cultural and economic 

22    bonds with Germany.

23                 Since assuming his role last summer, 

24    Consul General Knorn has worked tirelessly to 

25    promote collaboration in areas such as trade, 


                                                               976

 1    education, climate action and cultural exchange.  

 2    His leadership has been instrumental in fostering 

 3    a relationship built on mutual respect and shared 

 4    values.

 5                 Accompanying him today is Mr. Anton 

 6    Klix, the head of political affairs at the German 

 7    Consulate General in New York.  Mr. Klix plays a 

 8    critical role in advancing diplomatic initiatives 

 9    and ensuring that the partnership between Germany 

10    and New York continues to thrive.  His expertise 

11    and dedication have been invaluable in addressing 

12    global challenges and strengthening the bonds 

13    between our peoples.

14                 New York and Germany share a long 

15    history of cooperation and friendship, including 

16    the contributions of German immigrants like my 

17    great-great-grandmother, Elizabeth Wierhauser 

18    {ph}, who came here in 1852 from Hesse.  These 

19    immigrants helped shape our state's identity to 

20    the modern-day partnerships in innovation and 

21    sustainability.  Our relationship is a testament 

22    to the power of international collaboration.

23                 Consul General Knorn and Mr. Klix, 

24    we are honored by your presence here today.  Your 

25    visit underscores the importance of diplomacy and 


                                                               977

 1    enduring friendship between our nations.  

 2                 On behalf of the United States 

 3    Senate {sic} I extend our warmest welcome and 

 4    gratitude for your ongoing efforts to bring our 

 5    communities closer together.  Thank you.

 6                 And everyone, please join me in 

 7    welcoming Consul General Knorn and Mr. Anton Klix 

 8    to the United -- to the New York State Senate.  

 9                 Thanks.

10                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Thank 

11    you, Senator May.  

12                 To our guests, I welcome you on 

13    behalf of the Senate.  We extend to you all of 

14    the privileges and courtesies of this house.  

15                 Thank you for coming here, and 

16    please be recognized.

17                 (Standing ovation.)

18                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Senator 

19    Gianaris.

20                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   Now please 

21    recognize Senator Ortt for another introduction.

22                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Senator 

23    Ortt for the purposes of an introduction.

24                 SENATOR ORTT:   Thank you, 

25    Mr. President.  


                                                               978

 1                 I'd like to turn our attention to 

 2    our guest on the other side of our chamber here 

 3    today, a constituent of mine, Niagara Falls 

 4    Mayor Robert Restaino.  

 5                 Bob has been -- I call him Bob.  We 

 6    have a great personal relationship as well as a 

 7    working relationship.  He's a lifelong 

 8    Niagara Falls resident.  I won't say what year he 

 9    was born, that's not nice, but he's a lifelong 

10    Niagara Falls resident.  

11                 He's a Niagara Community College 

12    graduate.  He's a Niagara University graduate and 

13    a University of Buffalo Law School graduate.  

14                 He was admitted to the bar in 1986, 

15    assistant public defender of Niagara County from 

16    '86 to '95, and he was a Niagara Falls City Court 

17    Judge from 1996 to 2008.  Presided over domestic 

18    violence court, and then he was elected as the 

19    mayor of Niagara Falls in 2019, took office in 

20    January of 2020.  

21                 And I will tell you that while 

22    everyone here knows Niagara Falls -- as you know 

23    the falls, you may be familiar with the state 

24    park -- the City of Niagara Falls has gone 

25    through a lot of challenges economically, 


                                                               979

 1    culturally over many years and many mayoral 

 2    administrations.  

 3                 And running to be the mayor of 

 4    Niagara Falls in 2019 was not an easy decision to 

 5    do.  I know the mayor could have done a lot of 

 6    other things with his time.  But he cares about 

 7    Niagara Falls.  He knows that Niagara County 

 8    certainly can't be the county it could be and 

 9    should be if its largest city is not all that it 

10    can be.  And I would argue that New York State is 

11    not all it can be if Niagara Falls is not all 

12    that it can be.  

13                 So I know he's working very hard on 

14    economic redevelopment, on bringing new people to 

15    Niagara Falls, rehabilitating the housing stock, 

16    a host of issues.  And I'm proud to say that even 

17    though we're not of the same party, we have a 

18    great working relationship.  And I'm sort of more 

19    proud of that, I guess, than anything else.  

20                 But it gives me great pleasure to 

21    welcome him here to our great chamber.  Mayor, 

22    you're always welcome here.  Great to see you 

23    here in Albany.  I look forward to continuing to 

24    work with you back home.  

25                 And I would ask all of my colleagues 


                                                               980

 1    to give the mayor their warmest greetings here 

 2    today, Mr. President.

 3                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   

 4    Mr. Mayor, we welcome you on behalf of the 

 5    Senate.  We extend to you all of the privileges 

 6    and courtesies of this house.  Please remain 

 7    standing and be recognized.

 8                 (Standing ovation.)

 9                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Senator 

10    Gianaris.  

11                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   Let's take up 

12    the reading of the calendar, please.  

13                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   The 

14    Secretary will read.

15                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

16    133, Senate Print 1328, by Senator Parker, an act 

17    to amend the Public Service Law.

18                 (Pause.)

19                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   Lay it aside for 

20    the day, please.

21                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   The bill 

22    will be laid aside for the day.

23                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

24    136, Senate Print 1848, by Senator Harckham, an 

25    act to amend the Public Service Law.


                                                               981

 1                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Read the 

 2    last section.

 3                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

 4    act shall take effect on the 90th day after it 

 5    shall have become a law.

 6                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Call the 

 7    roll.

 8                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

 9                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Announce 

10    the results.

11                 THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

12    Calendar 136, voting in the negative:  

13    Senator Walczyk.  

14                 Ayes, 60.  Nays, 1. 

15                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   The bill 

16    is passed.

17                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

18    167, Senate Print 240, by Senator Krueger, an act 

19    to amend the Emergency Tenant Protection Act.

20                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Read the 

21    last section.

22                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 6.  This 

23    act shall take effect on the 60th day after it 

24    shall have become a law.

25                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Call the 


                                                               982

 1    roll.

 2                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

 3                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Announce 

 4    the results.

 5                 THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

 6    Calendar Number 167, voting in the negative:  

 7    Senator Walczyk.

 8                 Ayes, 60.  Nays, 1.

 9                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   The bill 

10    is passed.

11                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

12    195, Senate Print 1202, by Senator Cleare, an act 

13    to amend the Elder Law.

14                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Read the 

15    last section.

16                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 4.  This 

17    act shall take effect immediately.

18                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Call the 

19    roll.

20                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

21                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Senator 

22    Cleare to explain her vote.

23                 SENATOR CLEARE:   Thank you, 

24    Mr. President.  Good afternoon.  

25                 Sadly, fraud and abuse are still 


                                                               983

 1    prevalent in our society.  And with our older 

 2    New Yorkers continuing to be the fastest-growing 

 3    segment of our population, the time to craft a 

 4    comprehensive and proactive response is right 

 5    now.  

 6                 Therefore, this legislation 

 7    establishes the Interagency Elder Justice Task 

 8    Force within the New York State Office for the 

 9    Aging, with the goal of encouraging collaboration 

10    between elder justice stakeholders and developing 

11    strategies, systems and programs to protect older 

12    adults from abuse and mistreatment.

13                 The task force must request input 

14    from stakeholders, advocates, experts and 

15    coalitions, and meet at least once a month.  The 

16    task force's purpose is focusing attention on 

17    elder justice, improving policy, and creating a 

18    multidisciplinary mechanism to work towards 

19    alignment across agencies.

20                 Within one year of this 

21    legislation's effective date, the task force must 

22    hold five public hearings around New York State.  

23    And within two years of the effective date, the 

24    task force must report its findings and 

25    recommendations.  


                                                               984

 1                 I believe that in working across 

 2    various agencies, tapping into multiple subject 

 3    matter experts, and refining our knowledge by 

 4    collaborating with those who work in this field 

 5    every day, we can bolster our state's response 

 6    and ultimately empower our older New Yorkers.

 7                 I proudly vote aye.

 8                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Senator 

 9    Cleare to be recorded in the affirmative.

10                 Senator Borrello to explain his 

11    vote.

12                 SENATOR BORRELLO:   Thank you, 

13    Mr. President.  

14                 I want to thank the sponsor for this 

15    bill.  

16                 Every year we conduct senior fraud I 

17    guess community town halls throughout my 

18    district.  I want to say thank you to the 

19    Center for Elder Law and Justice, based in 

20    Buffalo, New York, that does an amazing job.  

21    They come out, as well as many of our various 

22    county office for the aging partners.  

23                 But this is going to tie it all 

24    together and make sure that those voices are 

25    heard and hopefully best practices can be shared 


                                                               985

 1    throughout the state to address one of the worst 

 2    things that I've ever seen in my life, and that 

 3    is defrauding some of our most vulnerable senior 

 4    citizens.  

 5                 Thank you.  And I proudly vote aye.

 6                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Senator 

 7    Borrello to be recorded in the affirmative.

 8                 Announce the results.

 9                 THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 61.

10                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   The bill 

11    is passed.

12                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

13    215, Senate Print 2091, by Senator Kavanagh, an 

14    act to amend the Executive Law.

15                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Read the 

16    last section.

17                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 4.  This 

18    act shall take effect immediately.  

19                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Call the 

20    roll.

21                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

22                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Announce 

23    the results.

24                 THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 61.

25                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   The bill 


                                                               986

 1    is passed.

 2                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

 3    240, Senate Print 365, by Senator Skoufis, an act 

 4    to amend the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.

 5                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Read the 

 6    last section.

 7                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 3.  This 

 8    act shall take effect on the 30th day after it 

 9    shall have become a law.

10                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Call the 

11    roll.

12                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

13                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Announce 

14    the results.

15                 THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

16    Calendar Number 240, voting in the negative:  

17    Senator Walczyk.

18                 Ayes, 60.  Nays, 1.

19                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   The bill 

20    is passed.

21                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

22    252, Senate Print 496, by Senator Fernandez, an 

23    act to amend the Labor Law.

24                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Read the 

25    last section.


                                                               987

 1                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

 2    act shall take effect immediately.

 3                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Call the 

 4    roll.

 5                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

 6                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Announce 

 7    the results.  

 8                 THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 61.

 9                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   The bill 

10    is passed.

11                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

12    275, Senate Print 1786, by Senator Hinchey, an 

13    act to amend the Public Health Law.

14                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Read the 

15    last section.

16                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

17    act shall take effect immediately.

18                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Call the 

19    roll.

20                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

21                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Announce 

22    the results.

23                 THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 61.

24                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   The bill 

25    is passed.


                                                               988

 1                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

 2    280, Senate Print 1377, by Senator Serrano, an 

 3    act creating a legislative task force on outdoor 

 4    environmental education.

 5                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Read the 

 6    last section.

 7                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 5.  This 

 8    act shall take effect immediately.

 9                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Call the 

10    roll.

11                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

12                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Announce 

13    the results.

14                 THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 61.

15                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   The bill 

16    is passed.

17                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

18    294, Senate Print 1842, by Senator Hoylman-Sigal, 

19    an act to amend the Election Law.

20                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Read the 

21    last section.

22                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 2.  This 

23    act shall take effect immediately.

24                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Call the 

25    roll.


                                                               989

 1                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

 2                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Announce 

 3    the results.  

 4                 THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 61.

 5                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   The bill 

 6    is passed.

 7                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

 8    303, Senate Print 2255, by Senator Comrie, an act 

 9    to amend the Public Authorities Law.

10                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Read the 

11    last section.

12                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 3.  This 

13    act shall take effect immediately.  

14                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Call the 

15    roll.

16                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

17                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Announce 

18    the results.

19                 THE SECRETARY:   In relation to 

20    Calendar Number 303, voting in the negative:  

21    Senator Walczyk.

22                 Ayes, 60.  Nays, 1.

23                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   The bill 

24    is passed.

25                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 


                                                               990

 1    426, Senate Print 5326, by Senator Bailey, an act 

 2    to amend the Insurance Law.

 3                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Read the 

 4    last section.

 5                 THE SECRETARY:   Section 3.  This 

 6    act shall take effect one year after it shall 

 7    have become a law.

 8                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Call the 

 9    roll.

10                 (The Secretary called the roll.)

11                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   Announce 

12    the results.

13                 THE SECRETARY:   Ayes, 61.

14                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   The bill 

15    is passed.

16                 THE SECRETARY:   Calendar Number 

17    438, Senate Print 4925, by Senator Ramos, an act 

18    to amend the Labor Law.

19                 SENATOR LANZA:   Lay it aside.

20                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   For the day.

21                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   The bill 

22    will be laid aside for the day.

23                 Senator Gianaris, that completes the 

24    reading of today's calendar.

25                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   Is there any 


                                                               991

 1    further business at the desk?

 2                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   There is 

 3    no further business at the desk.

 4                 SENATOR GIANARIS:   Move to adjourn 

 5    until tomorrow, Wednesday, March 12th, at 

 6    3:00 p.m. 

 7                 ACTING PRESIDENT BAILEY:   On 

 8    motion, the Senate stands adjourned until 

 9    Wednesday, March 12th, at 3:00 p.m.

10                 (Whereupon, at 3:35 p.m., the Senate 

11    adjourned.)

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